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Friday, November 28, 2008

J had plans for black Friday other than shopping. We had to work the calves that will be sent out west to the feedlot next month.This involved getting 100 calves up, through the chute one at a time, giving 2 vaccinations, and tagging with an EID (electronic identification) tag. I had to keep up with the EID tags, record the number and the corresponding calf ear tag.This is all for the age and source verification program so we get a premium at slaughter.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Our area has been in a drought for some time now. J is estimating 2 years. The spring that feeds this trough that the horses use and another one at the barn the show calves drink from, has pretty much dried up for now.J has borrowed a 250 gallon water tank that fits in the back of the pick-up truck to start hauling water to fill the 500+ gallon tire troughs up.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

We had to work cattle today. We kept waiting for a good day that corresponded with one of my days off but it never worked out so we did it today in 20 degree weather.We vaccinated and dewormed the cows,

vaccinated,

implanted,

and castrated the calves.With V and E's help, we worked 46 cows/heifers, and 35 calves in 3 hours.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Our local Elementary School had a career day today. I took Emma as a visual aid. Despite to day being poorly run (4 min. each for groups of 2-6 from 9am to 12 pm), Emma did wonderful.I forgot to take her in yesterday for a bath so I sprayed her with doggy cologne, brushed her well and took hand sanitiser for any of the kids that petted her to use. Of course all 100+ students petted, hugged, and rolled on the floor with her. The nurse sharing the same room requested she not be in with the dog next year because her plastic baby doll wasn't getting the same attention.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

We bought V's from a neighbor and picked him up today. He weighs 700 pounds.J picked E's out of our herd. He has been feeding him separate from the ones going out west.

They each have a Hereford heifer to show also. The 5th one at the feed trough is a heifer we are feeding for a beef. As you can see we had a little rain. It had been extremely dry lately so we're not complaining about the mud.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

J has been strip grazing the hay field this fall. We have a one strand electric fence that he puts across the field to let the cattle have enough grass for 3-4 days. Then he moves the fence to let them have a little more.

Once they get use to this the cattle act pretty crazy. When they see J they rush to the fence. Therefore, we have to move them out of the field before he can move the fence, then let them back in.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

After the calves are weaned the goal is to try and get them to start eating a concentrate feed. It always seems like the scrawny calves take off eating better that the fat ones. J has to haul out 400 pounds of feed in his trusty wheelbarrow. (It's the same one I remember watching my father mix batch after batch of cement in to build rock walls. And carry me around in the yard after picking up leaves in the fall.)

Monday, November 3, 2008

We went on a little trail ride Sunday afternoon. The weather was beautiful and the horses all acted well.

J had to make 2 trips to bring the horses since we only have a 3 horse trailer. This is how we waited on him to get Lady from his dad's house.

This was a particularly rocky section of the trail. E no longer apologizes to Pep for making her go across rough ground.V took the lead with Jessica Rabbit and followed by J for most of the ride. I tried to keep Thumper behind E so she wouldn't be by herself too much.